“…The first row transition metal promoters have thus qualitatively the same effect, which suggests a common yet unknown mode of operation. The promoting effect of Mn and Fe (and others) on sulfated zirconia has been ascribed to (i) increase of acid strength, 10,20 some of these experiments were later proven misleading; 11,15,16 (ii) facilitated formation and stabilization of carbenium ion and alkene intermediates on the surface, 12,13 increased dehydrogenation ability, 7,30 strengthened interaction with carbenium ions, 32 stabilization of the transition state complex on the surface, 7 (iii) a redox trigger of the acid catalyzed process, 2 a different degree of synergism between redox and acid sites, 22 a combination of a redoxactive metal site and an acid site in close proximity with oxidative dehydrogenation as initiating step; 25 and (iv) formation of 'less oxidized' Zr species. 33 Many of these suppositions point towards an interplay between redox and acidic sites, but no clear-cut picture has evolved, and the evidence for the promoter action is mainly indirect.…”